Export Expansion

As you look to grow your small business, you might want to consider opportunities with our neighbor to the south, the largest market for U.S. small business exports: Mexico.

In October of this year, SBA Administrator Maria Contreras-Sweet visited Mexico to discuss opportunities for expanding trade with Mexico. She forcefully advocated for encouraging women entrepreneurship, advanced innovation, and business partnerships; increasing access to capital; and improving bilateral regulatory cooperation.

Join the U.S. Commercial Service and the Illinois District Export Council for Discover Global Markets: Building Smart Cities. This conference for U.S. exporters brings together trade experts, industry professionals, and U.S. commercial diplomats via panels and executive meetings to address opportunities and demand for new technologies to make cities more sustainable. Your firm will leave this conference with the critical next steps needed to transform market potential to market success in markets of interest across the world.

The Business Opportunities in Central America Webinar Series will provide valuable insight to new and experienced exporters who will gain knowledge of export opportunities in this dynamic region. Companies will learn about best prospects, legal considerations, global logistics, export financing, eCommerce, leveraging CATA-DR, and export tax incentives in 7 countries in Central America. Participants will also understand and appreciate the cultural differences, economic conditions, and technological capabilities of potential partners.

Now more than ever, U.S. businesses know how important it is to take advantage of export opportunities around the world. From coast to coast, businesses are selling their world-class goods to the more than 95 percent of potential customers who live outside our borders. The 2015 Metropolitan Area Export Overview is a clear indicator of this movement, as many cities have increased exports or even set records. And along with the nation’s largest metropolitan areas sending out more American goods, many smaller areas have also set trade records.

Now to the numbers: U.S. metropolitan area goods exports exceeded 1.3 trillion in 2015, and accounted for 89 percent of goods exported from the United States. There were 156 metro areas that exported more than $1 billion of goods to consumers around the world. There were 14 metro areas that exported more than $20 billion of goods in 2015.

After decades of civil unrest, the Colombian government reached a ceasefirewith the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) on June 23, 2016. The ceasefire deal was the last major step in reaching a final peace agreement, expected by the second half of August, according to Colombia’s Minister of Post-Conflict, Rafael Pardo. Peace is expected to bring many benefits to Colombia, including improved rule of law, security, and increased investment. This improved business environment has the potential to open a number of new opportunities for to U.S. companies.The U.S. is an important trade and investment partner for Colombia. U.S.-based companies have been exporting an increased number products to Colombia since the U.S.-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreementwent into effect in 2012.

U.S. goods exports to Colombia stood at $16.3 billion in 2015, having grown 14% since the implementation of the agreement - compared to just 1.2% growth in U.S. goods exports worldwide over the same period. This makes Colombia our third largest export destination in Latin America.

Michael Waters is an International Trade Specialist for the U.S. Commercial Service office in Atlanta

In this digital age, a website is a necessity for any business of any size across all industries. A company’s website speaks about the organization and should be viewed by management as a virtual introduction of products and services offered to prospective customers.

However, working with international customers presents its own unique set of circumstances, especially when it comes to websites. For example, is there a link for international sales inquiries on your company’s website? And if so, what details are you requesting? What does your site look like on a mobile device or when translated into a foreign language? These are a few questions that every organization needs to consider when designing a website that offers a product or service for international customers.

Globalizing your company’s website does not have to be overly technical. This article will provide a few easily implementable suggestions that anyone can apply, with the ultimate goal of increasing international sales.

Join the U.S. Commercial Service for a series of complimentary webinars focusing on business opportunities in leading and emerging Pacific Rim markets that are included in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).

Over the last 9 years, minority-and woman-owned business Combustion Associates Inc. (CAI) has significantly grown their business from a small domestic operation to one that generates the majority of its revenue from exports to sub-Saharan Africa, using financing from the Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM).

Established in 1989, the California-based company manufactures and customizes gas turbine power generation systems, bringing dependable electricity to customers from Western Africa to Eastern Asia to South America. CAI's generators and power plants provide a reliable supply of electricity to governments, businesses, schools, and communities where spotty access to power has often hamstrung economic growth.

“We are part of the American dream of owning a business, being entrepreneurial and creating American jobs,” said Kusum Kavia, President of CAI.

Kusum and her husband Mukund were born in Kenya, raised in England, and immigrated to the United States, founding CAI in Corona, California 26 years ago. Beginning as environmental consultants, they moved on to engineering, manufacturing and installing their electrical power equipment and auxiliary systems.

Founded more than 15 years ago, a fast-growing supply company seated in the suburbs of Atlanta, Ga., started selling aircraft parts to commercial airlines and military air forces. The small company of only 35 is now considered one of the best spare parts providers in the world.

Aventure Aviation, nicknamed the ‘AutoZone for airplane supplies’ by its founder and president Zaheer Faruqi, found its humble beginnings in the basement of Zaheer’s home in Peachtree City, Atlanta.

The concept of providing a "customer driven first rate" aviation parts supplier service was the goal for this business venture. The idea originated from Zaheer’s previous work experience with a local part supplier company when he started noticing that similar companies lacked customer service and were solely profit oriented.

Zaheer visualized something greater and wanted to provide a service tailored to its individual customers overseas.